"They're my houses, those two," said the mother-in-law. "And not clear either. It's as much as I can do to keep the mortgage interest paid." Gertrude sat white and silent. She was her father now. -- "Then we ought to be paying you rent," she said coldly. -- "Walter is paying me rent," replied the mother. -- "And what rent?" asked Gertrude. -- "Six and six a week," retorted the mother. It was more than the house was worth. Gertrude held her head erect, looked straight before her. -- "It is lucky to be you," said the elder woman, bitingly, "to have a husband as takes all the worry of the money, and leaves you a free hand." The young wife was silent. She said very little to her husband, but her manner had changed towards him. Something in her proud, honorable soul had crystallized out hard as rock.